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FIRBPROOF CONSTRUCTION OF FLOORS AD OEILINGS.

Patented July 23, 1895.

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ence being had to the accompanying draw- 'iication, Figure l is a cross-section of my im- UNIT'ED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

ARCHIBALD G. OUMMINGS, OF BROOKLYN, ASSIGNOR TO MERTON S. MOSHER .AND EDWIN'H. MOSHER, OF NEW YORK, NQ Y.

FIREPRooF'coNs'i-RUCTION oF/FLooRs AND cElLlNGs.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters lPatent 120.543,082, dated July 23, 1895.

Application ledDecemher 8, 1894:..

Beit known that I, ARCHIBALD G. GUM- MINGS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fireproof Construction for Floors andv Ceilings; and I do declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will `enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.-`

This inventionrelates to an improved manner of constructing fireproof ceilingsand floors5and it has for its object to provide, first', a reproof construction that can be usedk at will either as a ceiling and door, or one independent of the other; second, a iireproof construction that is exceedingly light in structure and simple and neat in character, and at the same time I greatly add to the stren-gth of the parts; third, a reproof construction that may be erected without the ordinary scaolding, which has been proven by experience to be not only expensive but a danger to human life; fourth, by my improved construction I am enabled to provide a fireproof floor and ceiling that is not subject to moisture and breakage; fifth, by myimproved construction I am enabled to applythe White coating of plaster directly to the ceiling proper, and thus save the expense and labor of putting two coats of brown mortar thereon.

My invention has many other extremely valuable objects, whichwill be hereinafter explained, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this speciprovement. Fig. 2 is aview of a modification,- and Fig. 3 is a detail of the skew-block.

The same numerals refer to likeparts in all the figures.

In the drawings, 1 1 represent the ordinary I-beams, provided with flanges 2 2, on which is adapted to be seated my'imp'roved skewblock 3.' The skew-block has a vertical back 4, curve 5, inclined lower surface 6, and short vertical surface 7, thus forming the part which serai No, 531,2462 N0 mdem rests on the seats or Iianges 2 of the I-beam.

The horizon'ral'portion 8, (which is parallel with the ceiling,) the vertical surface 9, inclined surface or seat .10, slightly-inclined surface 11, the right-angle surfaces 12 and 13, and the upper inclined top l5.

The arch 16, which forms the foundation for theiioor 16a, is madeof a continuous piece of reproof material, and has its ends 17 so shaped as to fit tight within the right angle or cut out portions l2 and 13 of the skewblock. 18 indicates the ceiling, which has enlarged ends 19, provid ed with a vertical surface 21, inclined surface 22, and slightly-inclined surface 23. The surfaces 2l 22 23'conform to and are made to fit tight Within the surfaces 9 10 11 of the skew-block.

Plaster, paint., or, in fact, any equivalent, may be applied directly to the ceiling in any Welllknown manner.

The spaces formedrbetween thetop of the arch 16 and the I-beams 1 will be filled with bituminous concrete or other suitable material, as shown at 25, thus forming the haunches.

- My invention will be found to be extremely simple in construction and will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

. W'hen it is desired to provide a building `with my improvement the skew-blocks are first seated onv the flanges of the I-beams and the ceiling dropped in positionfrom the top, and then the yarch is seated .within the right-angle groove of the skew-block. It will be readily appreciated how quicklyzand securely a ceiling and floor can be put in place.

I am aware of patents having been granted which show a construction similar to the pres- 'ent application; but the construction is such as to not Warrant a floor and ceiling that is absolutely waterproof and not subject to moisture, and one that may be put up with any degree of cheapness. In the patents, and in fact all other lireproof arches referred to, it is necessary to have the arches made'in sections, which require a false structure to put them in place, which costs at a low estimate twenty-five per cent. more than the present construction. In fact, experience has taught me 'that the construction herein de- TOO scribed and claimed is the only practical, economical, and waterproof construction for floors and ceilings for iireproof buildings.

By making the parts (skew'blocl ,arch,and ceiling) of pressed Portland cement concrete I greatly add to the strength of the structure and am also enabledto make the above parts of any desired dimensions at a very considerably less expense than has been the custom in the manufacture of this class of Iireproof construction heretofore. W'hen it is desired to use the former the skew-blocks are seated in the flanges of the I-beams and the ceiling dropped in place from the top. Vhen it is desired to use the arch for flooring Without the ceiling the skew-blocks are put in place, as above described, and the angle ends of the arch are seated within the right-angle groove in the said blocks.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2 the ceiling is reinforced by inserting in the center thereof a piece of perforated metal 26 or the equivalent. By adding this metal to the ceiling I am enabled to secure a much stronger and more durable construction.

From the foregoing it will be readily seen that I have provided a reproof construction for ceilings and floors, or both in one, that may be set in place by one `not skilled in the art to which it appertains, which is, of course, owing to its simplicity.

If desired, the air-space between the arch and ceiling may be used as a means of ventilation.

I also desire to state that the several parts may be made of any reproof material, and that many other minor details of construction may be made Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. A fire-proof ceiling section made of pressed concrete or other fire-proof material having enlarged ends, which taper to the body portion thereof, and having on its outer ends a vertical surface 21, inclined surface 22, and vertical surface 23, a sheet of perfo rated metal or the equivalent thereof embedded within the center, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A skew-block for supporting a fire-proof arch for floors, and ceilings, having an angular groove on its upper surface for supporting said arch and a seat for sa id ceiling, snbstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a tire proof construction for floors and ceilings thecombination with the skew blocks, having surfaces 9, l0 and 1l, grooves CL2-13, the continuous arch, for supporting the oors having angular ends, and adapted to be seated in the grooves 12-13, and a ceiling section, having enlarged ends, said ends having surfaces 2l, 22 and 23, conforming with and adapted to be seated within the surfaces 9, 10 and 11in the skew block, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a fire-proof construction for floors and ceilings, the combination with the I-beams,of skew blocks resting on the flanges thereof, and made of pressed concrete, having surfaces 9, l0 and l1,aud grooves 12-13, an arch made of pressed concrete having angular ends seated Within the grooves l2--13,in the skew blocks, and a ceiling section having surfaces 2l, 22 and 23, corresponding with and adapted to be seated within the surfaces 9, l() and l1, in the skew block, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ARCHIBALD G. CUMMINGS.

Witnesses:

W. 1I. BARNES, EDWIN H. MosHER. 

